Radium and radon in the environment

<p><a href="/facts/Radium/VWo5gkzn">Radium</a> and <a href="/facts/Radon/0V9arWKl">radon</a> are important contributors to <a href="/facts/Environmental_radioactivity/z2B6mF3r">environmental radioactivity</a>. Radon occurs naturally as a result of decay of <a href="/facts/Radioactive/Ya6FVjt4">radioactive</a> elements in soil and it can accumulate in houses built on areas where such decay occurs. Radon is a major cause of cancer; it is estimated to contribute to ~2% of all cancer related deaths in Europe.
</p><p>Radium, like radon, is radioactive and is found in small quantities in nature and is hazardous to life if radiation exceeds 20-50 <a href="/facts/Sievert/8HLEH1vG">mSv</a>/year. Radium is a decay product of <a href="/facts/Uranium/n2sGWBzU">uranium</a> and <a href="/facts/Thorium/ysdWH470">thorium</a>. Radium may also be released into the environment by human activity: for example, in improperly discarded products painted with <a href="/facts/Radioluminescent/rsBBkXPK">radioluminescent</a> paint.
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Radium and radon in the environment open-in-new

Radium and radon in the environment